Movie buffs looking to expand their options for watching online videos
and movies beyond Netfilix, Hulu, YouTube and Amazon will be pleased to
discover that these four megasites only scratch the surface of what's
available. Whether you're looking for funny video clips, feature films,
music videos or videos that are safe for your children to watch alone,
there are plenty of other great websites and apps to match your tastes.
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With a featureless, gray homepage populated only with a long
list of text links, Wimp.com may not seem promising at first. Click on
these links, however, and you'll find some of the funniest, strangest,
most distinctive videos the Net has to offer. The user-generated
collection began in 2008 and today has 1.3 million Likes on Facebook.
The plain interface and straightforward presentation of choices can be
refreshing in its own right.
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Like YouTube, Blip.TV was launched in 2005, inviting
aspiring film makers to upload their own content to its site. Unlike
YouTube, Blip.TV accepts only professional-grade, ongoing video series.
Blip offers 16 different categories ranging from comedy and drama to
health and fitness, with much of its content rivalling anything you
might find on cable TV. Comedies include 7 Minutes in Heaven, where
Saturday Night Live's Mike O'Brien talks to celebrities up close and
personal… in his closet. For something darker, you might want to check
out The Black Dawn, a series about 13 L.A. residents who mysteriously
survive an apocalyptic plague.
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Music video fans are probably used to seeing Vevo's name on
most of their favorite songs on YouTube -- often on the authentic pick
you found after searching through miles of low-grade clutter. Vevo has
its own website where you can find these professional cuts: only
top-quality music videos without the usual assortment of cover songs and
fan responses. Vevo also has apps for mobile devices including Apple,
Windows, Blackberry and Android.
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The last of the giant brick-and-mortar video chains,
Blockbuster is usually identified with physical media: they rent discs
-- but that's no longer the only way you can make it a Blockbuster
night. If you're looking for recent feature films and don't mind paying
about $3 to $7 per title, Blockbuster.com has a huge selection of videos
online that rivals that in any of their remaining stores. You can watch
their On Demand videos on your Mac or PC, and on a limited selection of
smartphones, by downloading the app and paying for the rental -- no
monthly subscription needed.
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Crackle.com offers hundreds of movies and dozens of TV shows
for free online viewing. Titles include Snatch, Big Daddy, Groundhog
Day and Avalon -- mostly titles from the 1980s through today, though you
won't find brand-new releases. Episodic shows include Fantasy Island
and I Dream of Jeannie reruns as well as original content. The only
price you pay is watching a couple of ads before your movie starts --
and whenever you advance or rewind to a different part of the program.
Resolution is low, so expect to see blocky pixelation in full-screen
view.
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Apple iPhone and iPad owners will definitely want to check
out the free Vodio app. Launched in 2011, Vodio acts as a customized
video search engine, scanning thousands of sources on the Internet for
new videos. Not surprisingly, the vast majority come from YouTube. Where
this app really shines is that it ranks and sorts these videos and then
suggests them to you based on your personal tastes and preferences.
Even if you don't have an Apple iOS device, you can still check out
their Hot 100 video selections on their website.
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The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has created some of
the best documentaries and animated short films in the world, winning
over 5,000 awards in its 80-year history, including 12 Oscars. Thousands
of these films are now available at NFB.ca. Apps for Android and Apple
iOS devices enable you to enjoy their films on the go as well.
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Anyone looking for a good laugh and who isn't easily
offended should check out Cracked.com. Besides their hilarious Top 10
Lists, Cracked offers a huge library of original videos. Don't be
deceived by the categories. While the site offers Music, Sports, Tech,
History and Science videos, there's not a straight line in the bunch.
Selections within these staid headings include "The 25 Worst Rapper
Names of All Time" and "7 Studies That Only Proved That Scientists Are
Perverts."
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If you have children, Kideos is a good website to explore
age-appropriate videos. While almost all of the videos seem to be
embedded from YouTube, each video is vetted by a group of parents and
educators to ensure it is both appropriate and entertaining for children
before being added to Kideo's growing library. From Sesame Street clips
to baby pandas and puppies, there are videos here to entertain kids
from newborns to age 10. An iPhone app is available.
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The Internet Archive at Archive.org has collected hundreds
of copyright-free movies and feature films for anyone who likes old
movies. Selections include silent films featuring Charlie Chaplin and
Felix the Cat to classics like Quicksand, Plan 9 From Outer Space and
The Legend of Boggy Creek. You can stream the videos online or download
them to your computer to save for a rainy Saturday afternoon.
